Gunmen have abducted three people, including the elder brother of the Secretary to the Katsina State Government (SSG), in two different incidents on Wednesday and Friday.

Alhaji Kabir Muhammed, the brother of the Katsina SSG, Alhaji Mustapha Muhammed, was kidnapped by gunmen on Wednesday while he was working on his farm in Daftau Village, Danmusa Local Government Area of the state.

Neighbours noticed the victim, said to be “between 78 and 80 years of age” and of fragile health, was missing after he failed to participate in the seven early morning Muslim prayers.

He was consequently traced to his farm by his mosque and family members who discovered he had been abducted.

However, another source told The Vent Republic after he was abducted sympathisers rushed down to his house to inform his family of the incident.

A source said: “The gunmen kidnapped him on Wednesday evening and up till now, we have not heard anything from the kidnappers. We learnt the gunmen who kidnapped him on his farm were armed to the teeth. Unfortunately, the old man is in his late 70’s and he is of fragile health.”

The spokesman for the SSG, Mallam Kabir Yardua, confirmed the incident. He added that the gunmen had yet to contact the family as of Friday night.

Meanwhile, armed men on Friday kidnapped two persons in an attack on the Yangoji community in the Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

The kidnapped persons, according to residents of the area, are a man and his son.

According to them, the gun-bearing bandits scaled the victims’ fence and kidnapped them.The spokesman for the FCT police command, ASP Daniel Ndiparya, confirmed the kidnap.

He said the command was making efforts to ensure the kidnapped victims are rescued alive.